Volvo XC90 T8 News

Volvo wants to be a leading manufacturer of electric vehicles. The EV goals expressed by the Swedish automaker, which is owned by Chinese company Geely, echoes similar claims by several manufacturers such as BMW, Ford, and Volkswagen. These carmakers have announced big plans but have not yet produced electric cars in significant volumes. The first test of Volvo’s commitment will be delivering on its plans to debut its first all-electric model in 2019.

The company today unveiled two sleek and sporty concept cars to introduce its new compact platform—a design that accommodates electric and plug-in hybrid batteries. “An electric powertrain program including both a new compact twin-engine plug-in hybrid as well as a pure electric car are central to the CMA architecture,” said Volvo president Håkan Samuelsson.

The Volvo XC90 T8 is the company's first model to get a plug-in variant, although future editions of the S90 full-size SUV and XC60 crossover are expected in the next few years. Volvo will gradually add plug-in hybrid variants to its entire lineup—eventually offering plugs for all its vehicles as soon as 2020.

The company's electric strategy starts with the diesel V60, which I just drove in New Jersey. It's for sale only in Europe, which is a shame, because it's a darned good car. We're getting a plug-in gas version of the new XC90 next year, and Volvo says many more are to come.

Volvo yesterday unveiled a new plug-in hybrid concept car ahead of next week’s Frankfurt Auto Show. It's simply called the Concept Coupe. Volvo said the concept car indicates the company's plans for the future of the brand.

The car's diesel engine makes it a non-starter for the American market, but a gasoline version could hit our streets soon. Volvo has a long history making green cars, but this is the first to actually go to full production.

Volvo is developing systems that don’t need power sockets or charging cables to keep your electric car full of juice. The company is launching a project that uses inductive charging, with charging plate buried in the road surface to wirelessly transfer energy to the car’s battery. Cool stuff, but don't expect it anytime soon.